Solderless lug and connector for electrical cables



R. T. TRIER Dec. 18, 19 56 SOLDERLESS LUG AND CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES Filed March 11, 1954 Fig 6 INVENTOR. Raymond T. Tz'z/er BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent SOLDERLESS LUG AND CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES Raymond T. Trier, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Superior Switchboard & Devices Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 11, 1954, Serial No. 415,631

2 Claims. (Cl. 339-472) The invention relates to novel construction of solderless connector lug for cables and the like, and particularly to a simple and inexpensive device especially adapted for binding electrical cables or conductors to terminals and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a lug or connector of this type to which a cable or conductor may be directly attached and frictionally secured by a nonremovable screw.- I

Another objectis to provide such a lug or connector comprising a substantially U-shaped member, one leg of which is longer than the other and adapted to be connected to a terminal or the like, and an angular, or inverted L-shaped, member or cap, having means for detachable connection to both legs of the U-shaped member, a non-removable binding screw being threaded therethrough for frictionally securing a cable or the like within the U-shaped member.

A further object is to provide such a device in which lugs are formed at opposite ends of the cap or L-shaped member for detachable engagement with apertures formed in the legs of the U-shaped member.

A still further object is to provide a simple, economical and easily operated connector.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved solderless connector in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a solderless connector embodying the invention mounted upon a terminal and applied to the end of an electrical cable;

Fig. 2, a detached, perspective view of the U-shaped member forming a part of the connector;

Fig. 3, a detached, perspective view of the cap or L- shaped member with the binding screw therein;

Fig. 4, a side elevation of the assembled connector;

Fig. 5, a front elevation of the assembled connector;

Fig. 6, a rear elevation of the same; and,

Fig. 7, a top plan view of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout, the solderless lug and connector comprises two separable members, namely the substantially U-shaped base member, indicated generally at 10, and the inverted L-shaped or angular cap 11.

Each of the members and 11 is formed of a single piece of sheet copper or other suitable metal of substantial thickness, bent or formed in the shapes illustrated.

The U-shaped base member 10 has the relatively short leg 12 and the relatively long leg 13, the latter terminating in the angular terminal lug or flange 14, for attachment to a terminal or other support.

For this purpose, the terminal lug or flange 14 is provided with an aperture 15 to receive attaching means, such 2,774,953 Patented Dec. 18, 1956 as the screw 16 in Fig. 1, for connecting the member 10 to a terminal 17 or the like.

An aperture is provided in the upper portion of the longer leg 13 of the member 10, preferably in the form of an elongated, horizontal slot 18, as best shown in Fig. 2, and a similar aperture 19 is formed in the lower portion of the shorter leg 12, as also clearly seen in said figure.

The upper end portion of the leg 12 is preferably tapered upwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 20, to facilitate the placing of a cable or other conductor within the U-shaped member 10.

The L-shaped or angular cap 11 comprises the vertical leg 21 and the horizontal leg 22 at the upper end thereof. A lug or flange 23 is formed as an extension upon the end of the horizontal leg 22, and an angular, inwardly disposed lug or flange 24 is formed upon the lower end of the vertical leg 21. These lugs or flanges are adapted to be received in the slots 18 and 19 respectively of the member 10, when the two members are assembled as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

A threaded aperture 25 is substantially centrally located in the horizontal leg 22 of the cap member 11, and the binding screw 26 is threaded therethrough and provided at its upper end with the head 27 adapted for manipulation by either a wrench or screw driver.

Upon the lower end of the binding screw 26, a clamping plate 28 is swiveled, as indicated at 29 in Fig. 4. This clamping plate is of suitable dimensions so as to have a sliding fit between the legs 12 and 13 of. the U-shaped member, when the parts are assembled, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

In the operation of the device, when the cap 11 is removed from the base member 10, one or more stranded conductor wires or cables as indicated at 30, may be dropped into the open upper end of the U-shaped member 10.

Then, by rotating the binding screw 26 in the cap, to raise the clamping plate 28 to a point near the horizontal leg 22, the cap 11 may be attached to the U-shaped member 10. This is accomplished by inserting the lugs 23 and 24 of the cap into the apertures 18 and 19 respectively of the U-shaped member.

The binding screw 26 is then rotated in a direction to lower the clamping plate 28, and as the clamping plate enters the space between the legs 12 and 13 of the U- shaped member, the cap 11 is prevented from moving in any direction relative to the U-shaped member.

Further tightening of the binding screw will deform the stranded wires or cables 30 against the bottom wall 31 and inner walls of the legs 12 and 13 of the U-shaped member, and against the lower surface of the clamping plate 28, as shown in Fig. 1.

Thus a strong, firm mechanical and electrical bond is effected between the cable or other conductor and the connector, and the cable is held rigidly against accidental displacement.

It will be seen in Fig. 2, that, with the cap removed, the U-shaped member is open at the top and on opposite sides permitting a stranded cable or the like to be easily and readily inserted therein at any point intermediate its ends without necessitating cutting the cable.

In the same manner, it will be evident that the cable may be quickly and easily removed at any time that it may be desirable to change or replace a connection.

This is accomplished by rotating the binding screw to raise the clamping plate 28 above the top of the shorter leg 12 of the U-shaped member. The cap 11 may then be easily removed from the U-shaped member by disengaging the lugs 23 and 24 from the apertures 18 and 19, and moving the cap outwardly, or toward the left, as

viewed in Fig. 4. The cable may then be withdrawn from the U-shaped member.

From the above it will be evident that a simple and economical solderless connector is provided, which is easily and quickly operated to connect stranded cables and the like and provide a strong mechanical and electrical bond.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom. because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A solderless connector comprising a U-shaped member having a relatively long leg and a relatively short leg, an inverted L-shaped cap having a vertical leg overlying said relatively short leg and a horizontal leg overlying the open end of the U-shaped member, an extension lug upon the rear end of the horizontal leg, an inturned angular lug upon the lower end of the vertical leg, there being apertures complementary to said lugs in the upper portion of the long leg and the lower portion of the short leg respectively to prevent movement of the cap directly upwardly of the open top of the U-shaped member, and a binding screw threaded through the cap for entry into the open end of the U-shaped member, and a clamping plate swiveled upon the end of the screw for clamping inserted wires in the U-shaped member, said clamping plate being of rectangular shape for slidably fitting within the U-shaped member whereby entry of the plate into the open end of the U-shaped member will prevent disassociation of said complementary lugs and apertures.

2. A solderless connector comprising a U-shaped member having a relatively long leg and a relatively short leg, an inverted L-shaped cap having a vertical leg overlying said relatively short leg and a horizontal leg overlying the open end of the U-shaped member, an extension lug upon the rear end of the horizontal leg, an inturned angular lug upon the lower end of the vertical leg, there being apertures complementary to said lugs in the upper portion of the long leg and the lower portion of the short leg respectively to prevent movement of the cap directly upwardly of the open top of the U-shaped member, and a binding screw threaded through the cap for entry into the open end of the U-shaped member, and a clamping plate swiveled upon the end of the screw for clamping inserted wires in the U-shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,117,112 Buchanan May 10, 1938 2,128,895 Buehring Sept. 6, 1938 2,145,556 Rypinski Jan. 31, 1939 

